I stayed here recently from June 24th until September 9th. While my experience was not the worst;…read moreand I was fed and had a roof over my head, I do have complaints to make. The old executive director, Sharon Watson, was very sweet and kind, and treated all of the workers equally. However; upon getting the new executive director things took a turn for the worst. The workers had to start distancing themselves from the kids, which caused a lot of us to feel even more lonely than before, especially us that were going to be there for awhile. Many of the workers started quitting due to the mistreatment they were receiving, and many of the kids started acting out more. I respect the new executive director, I appreciate what she did for me, and I admire her method of working, however, I also feel as though she needed to understand things from more than just her own point of view. The youth advisors were the people who helped me to become more social and helped me to realize I have to stand up for myself. But after the new director came in I lost that influence in my life. However; many members of the staff and many of the youth advisors enhanced my experience greatly. Kathy and Jodi (two staff members from upfront) always did anything they could for the kids, though Jodi had more trouble due to the fact that she was the receptionist. The youth advisors (all of which have most likely either quit or were fired) were absolutely incredible. And my caseworker (who no longer works there) was one of the most helpful people there. Overall; my experience here wasn't the worst, but this place has a lot it mess to improve on.

To start, if I could give this facility a 0 star I would…read more Beware all children of CPS, North Texas Youth Connection is not a place you want to be (no matter how temporary!) Do not let your case worker or ANYBODY coerce you into being here!! As a youth resident of this place for 7 months, events I have witnessed and been a part of have been like no other in my 16 years of living. The environment is distressful and trauma-bearing for any child. Natasha Hayden is a habitual liar, a manipulator, and a sorrowful excuse of a CEO. This woman's mental health status desperately needs to be assessed because she is not well. Her lies are ludicrous and said without reason. Natasha once lied to staff that her husband collapsed in Miami Florida with recurring cancer. She claimed he was unable to be located, and needed to book an emergency flight to Florida that would take place the weekend she was supposed to work in the shelter as a youth advisor (because she's understaffed). The same evening this lie took place, this woman DIALED her husband's number in front of me and my sister and he answered. Natasha introduced me to him because I've made remarks in the past about her husband resembling a Tyler Perry movie actor. I even spoke to him myself! We had a brief conversation, with laughs and all. He sounded to be in perfect condition, in a non-clinical environment. I was in shock. I had to say goodbye one more time to make sure I didn't miss the IV drip. The extremity of the situation resulted in a staff member stepping up to work that weekend, but Mrs. Natasha was seen working in the front office on the same day. She never left the building on the supposed day of "her flight", and didn't hide it either! Since then, there has been no mention of her husband. To this day, we don't know if she has ever been able to locate him. Obviously, this lie was told as an excuse for her to not work in the back, but it's the extent that she went to which baffled me. Why would you wish something like that on your significant other? This was merely one of Mrs. Natasha's extravagant lies. The employee dropout rate of this facility is high. Youth advisors come in and go out by the month. During the period of my stay, I have seen 2 case managers leave along with the Financial Coordinator and Food Director. This place is severely understaffed. It is so bad that the maintenance woman works as Food Preparation, Receptionist, and Youth Advisor. Mrs. Natasha is so desperate for workers that she no longer trains them entirely. During my stay, there were random men that we kids had never seen before, hired to work. We didn't know where she got them from! One slept on our couches while on shift and ate from our pantry. Another man shadowed our case manager for 1 evening and started working with us immediately the day after. I believe there's a safety issue being violated because these people spontaneously arrive without shadowing experience as qualified workers did in the past. Most outings that we children were supposed to go on, were canceled and postponed because there weren't enough workers to take us. During my stay, Mrs. Natasha physically assaulted an 11-year-old girl and verbally abused the children I lived with. She threatened the youths with "pressing charges" over minor incidents like leaning up against a wall for too long, sneezing, and once even picking at dried wall paint. She is a complete sadist. We have tried to take up these issues with her, but she deflects the problem onto us and gaslights. She can never answer a question directly and once had the nerve to blame us, children, for the reason her staff resigns. This place is just awful. The work environment, how the children are treated, the youth's daily activities, the constant rescheduling of appointments, the threats, the use of detention center rules, the inability for kids to access any technology, and more. It is all truly awful. This is no place for a child, rather delinquents. Please save yourself the trauma and find someplace else.